On Feb. 25, 1987, "La Isla Bonita" was released as a single, the 5th and final from the "True Blue" album. It would become one of M's greatest classics.
Originally written by Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch as a lament, "La Isla Bonita" was first offered to Michael Jackson, for his "Bad" album. Jackson turned it down and Madonna, while working with Leonard on "True Blue", accepted the song and re-wrote it.
"La Isla Bonita" was Madonna's tribute to «the beauty and mystery of Latin American people» and marked the beginning of a long-term love affair with latin culture, that would last to the present date.
Everytime I hear it, I inevitably think of Pepe: it's his all-time favourite M song, for all the memories it brings from his teen days as an obsessed fan and, most of all, for reminding him of his father, who simply adores this song.
Cover
The single's cover features a shot from the bolero session by Herb Ritts. Another shot would later be used for the "You Can Dance" album.
Check out the photoshoot at Through The Looking Glass.
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Critics' Response
- In a review for the "True Blue" album, "Slant Magazine" called "La Isla Bonita" «one of Madonna's greatest, most influential and timeless songs».
- The "Chicago Sun-Times" considered it the best and most memorable song on the album.
Charts
- USA: debuted at 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at 4. It became M's 11th consecutive Top 5, a feat only surpassed, at the time, by the Beatles and Elvis. It reached Nr. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart (her second, after "Live to Tell") and on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.
- UK: it reached Nr. 1, staying there for 2 weeks.
- France: M's first Nr. 1, where it spent 3 weeks.
- Eurochart Hot 100: M's fourth Nr. 1 hit from the "True Blue" album. It peaked the charts for 3 weeks.
- Nr. 1 also in Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria.
Two words: worldwide hit!
- In a review for the "True Blue" album, "Slant Magazine" called "La Isla Bonita" «one of Madonna's greatest, most influential and timeless songs».
- The "Chicago Sun-Times" considered it the best and most memorable song on the album.
Charts
- USA: debuted at 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at 4. It became M's 11th consecutive Top 5, a feat only surpassed, at the time, by the Beatles and Elvis. It reached Nr. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart (her second, after "Live to Tell") and on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.
- UK: it reached Nr. 1, staying there for 2 weeks.
- France: M's first Nr. 1, where it spent 3 weeks.
- Eurochart Hot 100: M's fourth Nr. 1 hit from the "True Blue" album. It peaked the charts for 3 weeks.
- Nr. 1 also in Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria.
Two words: worldwide hit!
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